* Harry Potter: Time turners, Quidditch and Hermione Granger are all name-dropped - the books seem to exist within the universe.* [[CaptainObvious Obviously]], ''[[Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia Narnia]]'' is the basis for the ShowWithinAShow that provides the title.* WordOfGod is that Quentin was named after a character in ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury''.* The five Chatwin children are named after real-life intrepid explorer Bruce Chatwin.* The great field of grass that is known as "The Sea" is a play on the Dothraki Sea in George R.R. Martinís ''Song of Ice and Fire''.* One particular scene is explicitly borrowed from ''In Search of Lost Time'', where Marcel stumbles on a [[GirlOnGirlIsHot lesbian couple having a sado-masochistic affair]].* A marble nicknamed "Rakshasa" refers to an old D&D character in the Monster Manual.* Sir Hotspots is actually a reference to Martin Tenbones in ComicBook/TheSandman.* ''Amelia Popperís Practical Exercises for Young Magicians'' refers to a similar David Popper's books on the cello.* "Ricky, the man behind the counter", is named for great magician and magic scholar Ricky Jay.* The use of the word "coolth" a story titled ''Beauty and the Beasts''. Most editors try to take it out.* Given that Grossman is a fan of [[Creator/IainBanks Iain M. Banks]], a brief (sailing) reference to a "very fast picket" in ''The Magician King'' is most likely a nod to the space warships by that name in the [[Literature/TheCulture Culture]] novels.